The North Carolinian

30TH CONGRESS.

SECOND SESSION.

[For proceedings of 20, and 21, see outside.]

February 21.

In the House, Mr. McKay's bill to reduce the mileage of members of Congress, and for other purposes, was taken up, read a third time and passed. The bill has not been published, and we are not aware of what reduction is made.

The next important bill was that to abolish the franking privilege. A debate arose on this bill between Messrs. Cobb, Goggin, and Venable. A number of nonsensical attempts at amendment were made, and rejected or withdrawn; but the House adjourned to avoid taking a vote on the bill.

February 22.

In the Senate, Mr. Webster presented a paper which he said he should move as an amendment to the civil and diplomatic appropriation bill. It was a paper authorizing and directing the President of the United States to employ an adequate force from the Army and Navy, to preserve law and order in California and New Mexico, and that the existing laws be the laws to be enforced until Congress shall provide others.

Mr. Dayton also presented a paper looking to the same end. Both papers were ordered to be printed.

A joint resolution was passed authorizing the Secretary of War to furnish emigrants going to California and New Mexico, with arms and ammunition at Government contract prices. This, we dare say, will serve the Government a very good turn, if it should be able to dispose of many, for there is an abundance of arms in the Government Armories, which it would be glad to dispose of at cost price.

The discussion which took place on a private bill, to make compensation to Manuel X. Harmony for goods lost during the Mexican war, in consequence of the orders of Col. Doniphan, occupied the balance of the day. The bill was passed.

A number of other private bills were disposed of.
In the House, the bill establishing the Minnesota territory, its boundaries, &c., and providing Government for it, was under consideration. Minnesota is made from slices of territory from Iowa and Wisconsin. After amending the bill to suit them, it was further provided that the Act should not go into effect until 10th March, 1849. This was done by the whigs, so as to give to Gen. Taylor the appointment of the officers of the Territory. This amendment only passed by a majority of one. The bill was then engrossed for a third reading.

The House then passed a bill to extend the revenue laws of the United States over the waters of the territories of California.

February 23.

In the Senate, the general appropriation bill was again discussed. Mr. Dayton made a long speech upon the amendment of Mr. Walker, to extend the laws of the United States over the new territories, or rather upon an amendment of his own which he wished should supplant Mr. Walker's. His amendment, he said, was nothing more nor less than the statute which was enacted to give a temporary government to Florida and Louisiana. He opposed the idea of bringing those territories into the Union as States; and principally because he prefers that the country shall become more densely populated with a free soil people, so as to exclude slavery when the State government shall be formed.

The Senate, after some further running debate, adjourned again without action.

In the House, the Post office appropriation bill being up for consideration, Mr. McDowell of Virginia made an hour and three-quarters speech on the subject of slavery in the territories.

Of this speech the Union says: We were not fortunate enough to hear the speech delivered yesterday in the House of Representatives, which is described. But what we hear from all quarters confirms, indeed more than confirms, the impression which our correspondent describes. We hear it spoken of in such terms of enthusiasm, as we feel some delicacy in repeating. The unusual compliment paid by the House in waiving its hour rule, and unanimously urging him to go on—the tears which ran down the cheeks of many of the auditors and other circumstances of which we have heard, attest the deep impression which was produced.

Several other speeches were made upon this subject, which we would not publish, unless we get what the Washington Union gets, seven dollars a column, which is very poor pay. No allusion was made in those speeches to Post office bill!

February 24.

In the Senate, Mr. Fitzgerald introduced a resolution, directing the President of the U. States to confer upon Major General Winfield Scott, a brevet appointment of Lieutenant General. This is cruel to Mr. Benton!

The Senate then again resumed the debate on the amendments of Messrs. Walker and Dayton to the general appropriation bill. Mr. Walker made another long speech, but really the debate is so insipid that it is scarcely worth the reading. It is all words, words, words. Slavery and the extension of slavery has cost Congressmen more words, and the government more money to pay for them, than would have bought all the negroes and sent them to Africa.

The Senate again adjourned without action on amendments.

In the House, the Post Office bill was again taken up, and the question of slavery again discussed. After having talked several hours on this subject, they passed the Post Office bill and sent it to the Senate, although no one had spoken on it.

The bill to establish a territorial government in California, was then taken up, and slavery was again the theme of debate. No action took place upon the bill.